Injury risk during netball competition: an observational investigation

Abstract

Speed, agility and injury risk have been investigated through the technique observational analysis of sport behaviour. Netball requires both speed and agility to enhance performance, though such aspects can be the cause of injury especially to the lower extremity. The purpose of this study was to compare the potential injury risk in three broad positional roles in Netball using the Robinson Movement Classification (RMC) (Robinson and O’Donoghue, 2008). The RMC analysed sixteen netball players in competitive game of netball. Results were implemented in Focus X2 and subjects were divided into three broad positional roles, circle defence (n=5), centre court (n=6) and circle attack (n=5). A Chi squared test indicated significant differences in profile of events between playing positions (p=0.003). A series of Kruskal-Wallis H tests revealed no significant positional effect to the locomotives performed (p > 0.05). Players of all positions performed at least one disjointed or sharp turn per minute and a jump land every minute and a half. Positional role did effect the movement direction prior and post event types such as sharp and disjointed turns. The current study suggests that netball players, irrespective of position, have a potential injury risk from performing high frequencies of repetitive sharp and disjointed turns as well as jumps, landings, accelerations and decelerations. Such movements have been associated with injury risk to the lower extremity, particularly the ankles and knees.